How to Create a Stay-at-Home Camping Date Night

Instead of having to pack up a tent, prepare three days worth of food and pray there is no rain in the forecast (in Florida!), how about planning a camping date night at home? We promise it will be just as fun camping in your living room as it is in Wekiwa Spring State Park… maybe even better!

Post updated April 2020

Build a Tent

Remember building a fort as a little kid? Let’s bring that back. Grab a couple flat sheets or blankets from the linen closet. Some rope strung between 2 walls or some high backed chairs is all you need to create the perfect campsite. Get a couple of fluffy blankets and pillows to put on the floor. Hey, if you’re more of the glamping type, bring out the air mattress for a cushy at-home camping experience. Check out this tutorial and these at-home tent ideas to spark your imagination!

Cut the Lights

Grab some candles and lanterns. No one goes camping with flourescents! Don’t go building a bonfire in the living room or anything, but enjoy the flicker of a flame for this date night.

Pssst — want to support local? Order some candles from our favorite local company, Wash & Wik. Outdoors-inspired scents like Spring and Balsam Fir will help set the tone.

Pack a Picnic

You know what’s great about a picnic? You can put anything you want in that basket! Looking to keep it simple? Include simple sandwiches, a salad, some apples and celery with peanut butter. Perhaps cook some chili and cornbread in the colder months. Or there’s always good old cheese and wine! If you consider yourself a a foodie, try sticking to a unique theme for your picnic goodies. Enjoying a yummy (and easy!) meal with your love is never a bad idea.

Don’t feel like doing the setup and food prep yourself? Our Dream Date offers private gourmet picnic options at private locations or even in your own backyard. Note 4/8/20: Our Dream Date is currently not available for private picnics, so bookmark this info for a future backyard picnic date idea!

Roast S’Mores

No camping date night is complete without s’mores. Three simple, delicious ingredients: graham crackers, marshmallows, and Hershey’s chocolate (or Ghiradelli?). Heaven. Roast the marshmallows over the grill or cooktop (or the microwave–we aren’t here to judge). Nothing says I love you (and you have marshmallow on your face) like a s’more.

Tip: Pickup or order marshmallows in fun flavors from Wondermade in Sanford. They’ve even got a s’mores marshmallow flavor!

Image credit: Wondermade

Unplug

One of the main reasons people go camping is to get away. Turn your phone, TV and computer off for a night and focus on each other. Talk, laugh, read, open the windows and listen to the crickets. Enjoy life for a night without a phone in your hand. We all need that every once in a while.

Happy Camping!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tasha Harrison is the Co-Owner/Event Director at Everlasting Events, an Orlando-based event planning and design company specializing in weddings, corporate & social events. Follow Everlasting Events on Facebook/Instagram.